Irish and Ulster-Scots language commissioners left ‘in limbo’ as appointment process stalls

The long-awaited appointment of Northern Ireland’s first language commissioners has stalled, leaving the two candidates who believed they were successful in securing the roles “in limbo”.

The Executive Office had declined to explain the delay in officially naming the two commissioners, who are supposed to start work in less than four weeks’ time.

Foras na Gaeilge deputy chief executive Pól Deeds and former Belfast DUP councillor Lee Reynolds were named by the BBC in August as the respective commissioners for Irish language and the Ulster Scots-British tradition.

Both candidates were interviewed by First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly when shortlisted, and within days their names had been leaked to media.

However, while both were offered the jobs neither has received written confirmation of their appointment in the weeks since.

Both men are understood to have tendered their resignations with their employers ahead of an expected November 3 start date in their new £79,000-£88,000-a-year roles.

Mr Deeds is expected to leave Foras na Gaeilge before the end of the month, while Mr Reynolds had been working part-time until recently for the Institute of Physics.

In a social media post at the weekend relating to unionists’ vocal opposition to Belfast City Council’s new Irish language policy, Mr Deeds criticised the Executive Office (TEO) for “failing to come out and defend their own policy - and UK law”.

“TEO are failing in their duty of care to the new commissioner before he has even taken up his post,” he tweeted.

SDLP Irish language spokesperson Patsy McGlone said the delay in appointing the language commissioners was “deeply concerning – not least for those waiting to take up these posts”.

“The Executive has had years to get this right and there is no justification for yet another setback, with people left in limbo,” the Mid Ulster MLA said.

“The SDLP challenged the Deputy First Minister in the assembly (on Monday) to confirm when the appointments will be made – but there was no answer.

“We urgently need clarity on what is going on. These hard-won rights are central to equality and respect, and they cannot be held up because of Executive squabbling.”

The Executive Office has been approached for comment.